Kedah State
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Kedah (), also known by its honorific Darul Aman (دار الأمان;
Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
for 'The Safe Abode') and historically as Queda, is a
state State most commonly refers to: * State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory **Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country **Nation state, a ...
of
Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
, located in the northwestern part of
Peninsular Malaysia Peninsular Malaysia, historically known as Malaya and also known as West Malaysia or the Malaysian Peninsula, is the western part of Malaysia that comprises the southern part of the Malay Peninsula on Mainland Southeast Asia and the list of isla ...
. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km2, and consists of a mainland portion and the
Langkawi Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah (), is a duty-free island and an archipelago of 99 islands (plus five small islands visible only at low tide in the Strait of Malacca) located some 30 km off the coast of northwe ...
islands. The mainland has relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice, while Langkawi is composed of mostly of uninhabited islands. Kedah was previously known as Kadaram (; ') by the ancient and medieval
Tamils The Tamils ( ), also known by their endonym Tamilar, are a Dravidian peoples, Dravidian ethnic group who natively speak the Tamil language and trace their ancestry mainly to the southern part of the Indian subcontinent. The Tamil language is o ...
, Kataha or Kalahbar (; ' or ; ') by the
Arabs Arabs (,  , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world. Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of yea ...
, and ''
Syburi Syburi (; , meaning "City of the Banyan") is the name for the Malay state of Kedah returned to Thailand when the Japanese occupied British Malaya during World War II. History General Plaek Phibunsongkhram signed a secret agreement with the ...
'' (; ) by the Siamese when it was under their influence. Kedah borders the state of
Perlis Perlis (Kedah Malay language, Kedah Malay (Perlis dialect): ''Peghelih'') is a Negeri, state of Malaysia in the northwestern coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It is the smallest state in Malaysia by area and population. The state borders the Thai ...
to the north and shares an international boundary with the
Songkhla Songkhla (, ), also known as Singgora or Singora (Kelantan-Pattani Malay, Pattani Malay: ซิงกอรอ, Singoro), is a city (''thesaban nakhon'') in Songkhla Province of southern Thailand, near the border with Malaysia. Songkhla lies ...
and Yala provinces of
Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...
. It borders the states of
Perak Perak (; Perak Malay: ''Peghok'') is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. Perak has land borders with the Malaysian states of Kedah to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kel ...
to the south and
Penang Penang is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia along the Strait of Malacca. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. Th ...
to the southwest. The state's capital is
Alor Setar Alor Setar ( Kedah Malay: ) is the state capital of Kedah, Malaysia. It is the second-largest city in the state after Sungai Petani and one of the most-important cities on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It is home to the third-tallest ...
and the royal seat is in the capital's suburb
Anak Bukit Anak Bukit is a mukim and the royal town of Kedah, Malaysia, located in Kota Setar District and falls under the jurisdiction of the Alor Setar City Council. Royal Town It is known as the royal town of Kedah because the Sultan of Kedah's ...
. Other major towns include
Sungai Petani Sungai Petani ( abbr. Sg. Petani or SP) is a city in Kuala Muda District, Kedah, Malaysia. The population of the municipal area of Sungai Petani is larger than Kedah's state capital, Alor Setar. It is located about 55 km south of Alor Set ...
(its largest urban area by population), and
Kulim The Kulim District is a district and town in the state of Kedah, Malaysia. It is located on the southeast of Kedah, bordering Penang. The town of Kulim, a mere east of Penang's capital city, George Town, also forms part of the George Town Conu ...
on the mainland, and
Kuah Kuah is a resort town, mukim and district capital of Langkawi District, Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia. It is the entry point for those coming by ferry from either the mainland or Penang Island. The town is centered on its jetty, which is a point ...
on
Langkawi Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah (), is a duty-free island and an archipelago of 99 islands (plus five small islands visible only at low tide in the Strait of Malacca) located some 30 km off the coast of northwe ...
.


History


Early history

Around 788 BC, a large settlement may have been already established around the northern bank of Merbok River. The settlement consisted of a large area of
Bujang Valley The Bujang Valley () is a sprawling historical complex and has an area of approximately , with the discovery of a set of new iron smelting sites, Sungai Batu site enlarging the settlement area to . Bujang Valley situated near Merbok, Kedah, b ...
, covering branches of the Merbok and
Muda River The Muda River () is the longest river in Kedah, Malaysia. Course Sourced in Ulu Muda Forest in Sik region in northeastern Kedah, along the border with Thailand, the river meets the water needs of the states of Kedah and Penang. The river flows ...
that was about 1,000 square miles in area. It was built at the estuary of a branch of Merbok River, now known as Sungai Batu. Archaeological evidence found in the
Bujang Valley The Bujang Valley () is a sprawling historical complex and has an area of approximately , with the discovery of a set of new iron smelting sites, Sungai Batu site enlarging the settlement area to . Bujang Valley situated near Merbok, Kedah, b ...
(Malay: ''Lembah Bujang'') reveals that an
animist Animism (from meaning 'breath, spirit, life') is the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence. Animism perceives all things—animals, plants, rocks, rivers, weather systems, human handiwork, and in ...
settlement resided in ancient Kedah possibly as early as 110 AD. The discovery of a temple, jetty remains, iron smelting sites, and clay brick monuments probably dating back to 110 AD shows that a maritime trading route with south Indian Tamil kingdoms was already established since that time. The discoveries in the Bujang Valley also made ancient Kedah perhaps the most ancient settlement in Southeast Asia.


Hindu-Buddhist Era

Ancient Kedah was first mentioned in the
Tamil Tamil may refer to: People, culture and language * Tamils, an ethno-linguistic group native to India, Sri Lanka, and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka ** Myanmar or Burmese Tamils, Tamil people of Ind ...
poem
Paṭṭiṉappālai __NOTOC__ ''Paṭṭiṉappālai'' () is a Tamil poem in the ancient Sangam literature. It contains 301 lines, of which 296 lines are about the port city of Kaveripoompattinam, the early Chola kingdom and the Chola king Karikalan. The remaini ...
written at the end of the second century AD. It described goods from ''Kadaram'' "heaped together in the broad streets" of the
Chola The Chola Empire, which is often referred to as the Imperial Cholas, was a medieval thalassocratic empire based in southern India that was ruled by the Chola dynasty, and comprised overseas dominions, protectorates and spheres of influence ...
capital. Apart from ''Kadaram'', Kedah was known by various names at different times in Indian literature: ''Kataha-Nagara'' (in Kaumudi Mahotsava drama), ''Anda-Kataha'' (in
Agni Purana The ''Agni Purana'', (, ) is a Sanskrit text and one of the eighteen major Puranas of Hinduism. The text is variously classified as a Purana related to Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism and Smartism, but also considered as a text that covers them ...
), ''Kataha-Dvipa'' (in Samarāiccakahā), and ''Kataha'' (in
Kathasaritsagara The ''Kathāsaritsāgara'' ("Ocean of the Streams of Stories") (Devanagari: कथासरित्सागर) is a famous 11th-century collection of Indian legends and folk tales as retold in Sanskrit by the Shaivite Somadeva from Kashmir. ' ...
). In Middle Eastern literature, ancient Kedah was referred to as ''Qilah'' by
Ibn Khordadbeh Abu'l-Qasim Ubaydallah ibn Abdallah ibn Khordadbeh (; 820/825–913), commonly known as Ibn Khordadbeh (also spelled Ibn Khurradadhbih; ), was a high-ranking bureaucrat and geographer of Persian descent in the Abbasid Caliphate. He is the aut ...
in the ''
Book of Roads and Kingdoms The ''Book of Roads and Kingdoms'' (, ''Kitāb al-Masālik waʿl-Mamālik'') is a group of Islamic manuscripts composed from the Middle Ages to the early modern period. They emerged from the administrative tradition of listing pilgrim and post st ...
'', ''Kalah-Bar'' by Soleiman Siraf & Abu Zaid al Hassan in ''Silsilat-al-Tawarikh'' (travels in Asia), and ''Kalah'' by Abu-Dulaf Misa'r Ibn Muhalhil in ''Al-Risalah al-thaniyah''. The
Tang dynasty The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, c=唐朝), or the Tang Empire, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an Wu Zhou, interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed ...
Buddhist monk,
Yijing The ''I Ching'' or ''Yijing'' ( ), usually translated ''Book of Changes'' or ''Classic of Changes'', is an ancient Chinese divination text that is among the oldest of the Chinese classics. The ''I Ching'' was originally a divination manual in ...
who visited the
Malay Archipelago The Malay Archipelago is the archipelago between Mainland Southeast Asia and Australia, and is also called Insulindia or the Indo-Australian Archipelago. The name was taken from the 19th-century European concept of a Malay race, later based ...
between 688 and 695, also mentioned a kingdom known as ''Ka-Cha'' in the northern part of the
Malay Peninsula The Malay Peninsula is located in Mainland Southeast Asia. The landmass runs approximately north–south, and at its terminus, it is the southernmost point of the Asian continental mainland. The area contains Peninsular Malaysia, Southern Tha ...
, which according to him was thirty days sail from Bogha (
Palembang Palembang (, Palembang: ''Pelémbang'', Mandarin: 巨港 (Jùgǎng), Hokkien: 舊港 (Kū-káng), Jawi: ) is the capital city of the Indonesian province of South Sumatra. The city proper covers on both banks of the Musi River in the ea ...
), the capital of Sribogha (
Srivijaya Srivijaya (), also spelled Sri Vijaya, was a Hinduism, Hindu-Buddhism, Buddhist thalassocracy, thalassocratic empire based on the island of Sumatra (in modern-day Indonesia) that influenced much of Southeast Asia. Srivijaya was an important ...
). In the seventh and eighth centuries, Kedah was under the loose control of
Srivijaya Srivijaya (), also spelled Sri Vijaya, was a Hinduism, Hindu-Buddhism, Buddhist thalassocracy, thalassocratic empire based on the island of Sumatra (in modern-day Indonesia) that influenced much of Southeast Asia. Srivijaya was an important ...
. Indian and
Arab Arabs (,  , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world. Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of years ...
sources consider Kedah to be one of the two important sites during the
Srivijaya Srivijaya (), also spelled Sri Vijaya, was a Hinduism, Hindu-Buddhism, Buddhist thalassocracy, thalassocratic empire based on the island of Sumatra (in modern-day Indonesia) that influenced much of Southeast Asia. Srivijaya was an important ...
period, often calling the king of the straits "the ruler of
Srivijaya Srivijaya (), also spelled Sri Vijaya, was a Hinduism, Hindu-Buddhism, Buddhist thalassocracy, thalassocratic empire based on the island of Sumatra (in modern-day Indonesia) that influenced much of Southeast Asia. Srivijaya was an important ...
and Kataha". In 1025,
Rajendra I Rajendra I (26 July 971 – 1044), often referred to as Rajendra the Great, was a Chola Emperor who reigned from 1014 to 1044. He was born in Thanjavur to Rajaraja I. His queen was Vanavan Mahadevi and he assumed royal power as co-regent with ...
, the
Chola The Chola Empire, which is often referred to as the Imperial Cholas, was a medieval thalassocratic empire based in southern India that was ruled by the Chola dynasty, and comprised overseas dominions, protectorates and spheres of influence ...
king from
Coromandel Coast The Coromandel Coast is a coastal region along the southeastern front of the Indian peninsula. Its delimitations are numerous, but generally admitted to be bounded by the Krishna River, Krishna river River mouth, mouth to the north, the Bay of B ...
in
South India South India, also known as Southern India or Peninsular India, is the southern part of the Deccan Peninsula in India encompassing the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana as well as the union territories of ...
, captured Kedah in his
Chola invasion of Srivijaya In 1025 CE, the Chola Emperor Rajendra I launched naval invasions on Srivijaya in maritime Southeast Asia, leading to the fall of the Sailendra Dynasty of Srivijaya. Rajendra's overseas expedition against Srivijaya was a unique event in In ...
and occupied it for some time. A second invasion was led by
Virarajendra Virarajendra Chola (1002 – 1070) was a Chola emperor. A son of Rajendra I, he spent a majority of his life as a subordinate to two of his elder brothers, Rajadhiraja I and Rajendra II. During his early reign, he founded a school to study t ...
of the
Chola dynasty The Chola dynasty () was a Tamil dynasty originating from Southern India. At its height, it ruled over the Chola Empire, an expansive maritime empire. The earliest datable references to the Chola are from inscriptions dated to the 3rd cen ...
who conquered Kedah in the late 11th century. During the reign of
Kulottunga I Kulottunga Chola I ('; Middle Tamil: Kulōttuṅka Cōḻaṉ; Classical Sanskrit: Kulottuṅgā Cōḷa; 1025–1122) also spelt Kulothunga (), born Rajendra Chalukya (Telugu language, Telugu: Rājēndra Cāḷukyuḍu), was a Chola empire, C ...
Chola overlordship was established over the
Srivijaya Srivijaya (), also spelled Sri Vijaya, was a Hinduism, Hindu-Buddhism, Buddhist thalassocracy, thalassocratic empire based on the island of Sumatra (in modern-day Indonesia) that influenced much of Southeast Asia. Srivijaya was an important ...
n province of Kedah in the late 11th century.


Kedah Sultanate

According to ''
Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa The ''Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa'' ( Jawi: حكاية مروڠ مهاوڠسا ), alternatively spelt ''Hikayat Marong Mahawangsa'' and also known as the ''Kedah Annals'', is a Malay literary work that gives a romantic account of the history and ...
'' or the ''Kedah Annals'', Kedah was founded by a
Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
king named
Merong Mahawangsa Merong Mahawangsa is a legendary warrior and a ruler who is said to be the first king of Langkasuka, or the modern-day Pattani empire. His tale is mentioned in the Kedah Annals, where it mentions him as a hero who became the first king of Lang ...
. According to the text further, the
Sultanate of Kedah The Kedah Sultanate () is a Muslim dynasty located in the Malay Peninsula. It was originally an independent state, but became a British protectorate in 1909. Its monarchy was abolished after it was added to the Malayan Union but was restored ...
started in 1136 when King Phra Ong Mahawangsa converted to Islam and adopted the name Sultan Mudzafar Shah. However, an Acehnese account gave a date of 1474 for the year of the ruler of Kedah's conversion to Islam. This later date accords with an account in the ''
Malay Annals The ''Malay Annals'' ( Malay: ''Sejarah Melayu'', Jawi: ), originally titled ''Sulalatus Salatin'' (''Genealogy of Kings''), is a literary work that gives a romanticised history of the origin, evolution and destruction of the Malacca Sultanat ...
'' where a raja of Kedah visited Malacca during the reign of its last sultan seeking the honour of the royal band that marks the sovereignty of a Muslim ruler. However, in Thai chronicles it is told that Kedah was a Thai city like
Nakhon Si Thammarat Nakhon Si Thammarat (, ; from ) is a city municipality (''thesaban nakhon'') located in Mueang Nakhon Si Thammarat, the capital of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. Nakhon Si Thammarat Province is situated in the South of Thailand. It is about s ...
and was a part of Siamese kingdom but later was changed into a Malay state after invasion of Muslim kingdoms. It was later under
Siam Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...
, until it was conquered by the Malay sultanate of
Malacca Malacca (), officially the Historic State of Malacca (), is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state in Malaysia located in the Peninsular Malaysia#Other features, southern region of the Malay Peninsula, facing the Strait of Malacca ...
in the 15th century. In the 17th century, Kedah was attacked by the Portuguese after their conquest of Malacca, and by
Aceh Aceh ( , ; , Jawi script, Jawoë: ; Van Ophuijsen Spelling System, Old Spelling: ''Atjeh'') is the westernmost Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia. It is located on the northern end of Sumatra island, with Banda Aceh being its capit ...
. In the hope that Great Britain would protect what remained of Kedah from Siam, the sultan handed over
Penang Penang is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia along the Strait of Malacca. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. Th ...
and then
Province Wellesley A province is an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions outside Italy. The term ''provin ...
to the British at the end of the 18th century. The Siamese nevertheless invaded Kedah in 1821, and it remained under Siamese control under the name of Syburi. In 1896, Kedah along with
Perlis Perlis (Kedah Malay language, Kedah Malay (Perlis dialect): ''Peghelih'') is a Negeri, state of Malaysia in the northwestern coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It is the smallest state in Malaysia by area and population. The state borders the Thai ...
and
Setul Setul, officially the Kingdom of Setul Mambang Segara (; Jawi: ; ; ) was a Malay kingdom founded in the northern coast of the Malay Peninsula. The state was established in 1808 in the wake of the partition between the rulers of the royal hou ...
were combined into the Siamese province of Monthon Syburi which lasted until it was transferred to the British by the
Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 The Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 or Bangkok Treaty of 1909 was a treaty between the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Siam signed on 10 March 1909, in Bangkok. Ratifications were exchanged in London on 9 July 1909, and the treaty established t ...
.


Incorporation into Malaya

In
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, Kedah (along with
Kelantan Kelantan (; Kelantan-Pattani Malay, Kelantanese Malay: ''Klate''; ) is a state in Malaysia. The capital, Kota Bharu, includes the royal seat of Kubang Kerian. The honorific, honorific name of the state is ''Darul Naim'' ("The Blissful Abode"). ...
) was the first part of Malaya to be invaded by Japan. The Japanese returned Kedah to their Thai allies who had it renamed
Syburi Syburi (; , meaning "City of the Banyan") is the name for the Malay state of Kedah returned to Thailand when the Japanese occupied British Malaya during World War II. History General Plaek Phibunsongkhram signed a secret agreement with the ...
, but it returned to British rule after the end of the war. Kedah became one of the states of the
Federation of Malaya Malaya, officially the Federation of Malaya, was a country in Southeast Asia from 1948 to 1963. It succeeded the Malayan Union and, before that, British Malaya. It comprised eleven states – nine Malay states and two of the Straits Settleme ...
in 1948, which then achieved independence in 1957. Malaya was then enlarged to become Malaysia in 1963, joined by
Sabah Sabah () is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia located in northern Borneo, in the region of East Malaysia. Sabah has land borders with the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the southwest and Indonesia's North Kalima ...
,
Sarawak Sarawak ( , ) is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia. It is the largest among the 13 states, with an area almost equal to that of Peninsular Malaysia. Sarawak is located in East Malaysia in northwest Borneo, and is ...
and
Singapore Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...
(independent in 1965).


Geography

Kedah is the 8th largest state by land area and 8th most populated state in Malaysia, with a total land area of . The terrain is mostly flat in general, as the Kedah–Perlis Plain covers much of the state's land area, from the district of
Kuala Muda The Kuala Muda District is a district in Kedah, Malaysia. Sungai Petani is the administrative center of the district. Kuala Muda district is in close proximity to the border of Kedah and Penang. Apart from Sungai Petani, other major towns in t ...
in the south towards the state of
Perlis Perlis (Kedah Malay language, Kedah Malay (Perlis dialect): ''Peghelih'') is a Negeri, state of Malaysia in the northwestern coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It is the smallest state in Malaysia by area and population. The state borders the Thai ...
in the north. Owing to its
alluvial Alluvium (, ) is loose clay, silt, sand, or gravel that has been deposited by running water in a stream bed, on a floodplain, in an alluvial fan or beach, or in similar settings. Alluvium is also sometimes called alluvial deposit. Alluvium is ...
properties, most of the plains have been developed for rice farming for centuries. Meanwhile, the northeastern towards the southeastern part of the state is particularly mountainous, especially in the districts of
Padang Terap The Padang Terap District is a district in Kedah, Malaysia. It is governed by the Padang Terap District Council (). Padang Terap District shares a border with Thailand to the north, and with Sik District and Pendang District to the west. It is ...
, Sik,
Baling The Baling District is an administrative district in southeastern Kedah, Malaysia. Located about 110 km from Alor Setar, it borders Perak and Betong, the southernmost town of Thailand. Name The name Baling can be traced to a series of e ...
,
Kulim The Kulim District is a district and town in the state of Kedah, Malaysia. It is located on the southeast of Kedah, bordering Penang. The town of Kulim, a mere east of Penang's capital city, George Town, also forms part of the George Town Conu ...
and Bandar Baharu. The Kedah–Songkhla and Bintang Ranges formed the state's boundary between the Thai provinces of
Songkhla Songkhla (, ), also known as Singgora or Singora (Kelantan-Pattani Malay, Pattani Malay: ซิงกอรอ, Singoro), is a city (''thesaban nakhon'') in Songkhla Province of southern Thailand, near the border with Malaysia. Songkhla lies ...
and Yala in the northeast, and the state of
Penang Penang is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia along the Strait of Malacca. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. Th ...
in the southwest and
Perak Perak (; Perak Malay: ''Peghok'') is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. Perak has land borders with the Malaysian states of Kedah to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kel ...
in the southeast. The Bintang Range is home to Mount Bintang, the state's highest point, located on the border with Perak. Some parts of Kedah are also
karstic Karst () is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble carbonate rocks such as limestone and dolomite. It is characterized by features like poljes above and drainage systems with sinkholes and caves underground. There is some eviden ...
, with areas punctuated by
limestone Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...
hills called
mogotes Mogotes () is a town and municipality in the Santander Department, in northeastern Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, insular regions i ...
. The major rivers within Kedah include the
Kedah Kedah (), also known by its honorific Darul Aman (Islam), Aman (دار الأمان; Arabic for 'The Safe Abode') and historically as Queda, is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of ...
,
Merbok Merbok is a mukim (sub-district) in the Kuala Muda District of Kedah, Malaysia. It is known for the historical Bujang Valley. The area also hosts the Kedah Campus of Universiti Teknologi MARA The MARA Technological University ( Malay: '' ...
,
Muda MuDA was the acronym of the Museum of Digital Art, an art space dedicated to digital arts. The institute was opened in February 2016 in Zurich by the non-profit Digital Arts Association. It closed by the end of June 2020. History The MuDA project ...
and
Kerian The Kerian District (alternately Krian) is an administrative district in Perak, Malaysia. It covers the northwestern corner of Perak, bordering the states of Penang and Kedah to the north; the main town of Parit Buntar is located a mere southeast ...
rivers. The Muda River serves as the southwestern border with Penang, while the Kerian River forms part of the southeastern boundary with Penang and Perak.


Government


Executive

Kedah's constitution was promulgated by Sultan Badlishah in July 1950. The various provisions laid down in the constitution include the role and powers of the monarch, the
Kedah State Legislative Assembly The Kedah State Legislative Assembly () is the state legislature of the Malaysian state of Kedah. It is a unicameral institution, consisting of a total of 36 lawmakers representing single-member constituencies throughout the state. Members of t ...
and the state's civil service. The
Sultan of Kedah The Kedah Sultanate () is a Muslim dynasty located in the Malay Peninsula. It was originally an independent state, but became a British protectorate in 1909. Its monarchy was abolished after it was added to the Malayan Union but was restored ...
is the constitutional ruler of the state. His position is hereditary and he holds his office for life. The sultan is the head of
Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...
in the state and the
executive power The executive branch is the part of government which executes or enforces the law. Function The scope of executive power varies greatly depending on the political context in which it emerges, and it can change over time in a given country. In ...
of the state government is vested in him. The current sultan is Sallehuddin, who has reigned since 12 September 2017 after his elder brother Sultan Abdul Halim died on 11 September 2017. The State Executive Council, which along with the Sultan is Kedah's executive branch of government. It is composed of the
Menteri Besar head of government, Heads of government in Malaysia's many states of Malaysia, states take on various titles. Seven out of nine in the Peninsular Malaysia, Peninsular who each have Monarchies of Malaysia, historical monarchs are known as the Men ...
, who is its chairman and Kedah's head of government, and ten other members. The Menteri Besar and other members of the council are appointed by the Sultan of Kedah from members of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly ( Malay: ''Dewan Undangan Negeri Kedah'').


Legislature

The
Kedah State Legislative Assembly The Kedah State Legislative Assembly () is the state legislature of the Malaysian state of Kedah. It is a unicameral institution, consisting of a total of 36 lawmakers representing single-member constituencies throughout the state. Members of t ...
is similar to the
Parliament In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
but is limited to making laws relating to the state. Its members are elected in elections which are usually held simultaneously with federal elections. The term of each state assembly member is limited to five years. The state assembly must be dissolved before or once it expires its term for a fresh election.


Departments

* Kedah State Finance and Treasury Office * Kedah Irrigation and Drainage Department * Kedah State Forestry Department * Kedah Social Welfare Department * Kedah Syariah Judiciary Department * Kedah Public Works Department * Kedah State Islamic Religious Affairs Department * Kedah Public Service Commission * Kedah State Agriculture Department * Office of Lands and Mines Kedah * Kedah State Mufti Department * Kedah Town and Country Planning Department * Department of Veterinary Services of Kedah


Statutory bodies

* Mahmud College Board * Kedah State Paddy Farmers Development Board * Kedah State Islamic Religious Council * Kedah Public Library Corporation * Kedah State Water Resources Board * Kedah State Development Corporation * Kedah State Museum Board * Kedah State Zakat Board


Administrative divisions

Modern Kedah is divided into 12 administrative
districts A district is a type of administrative division that in some countries is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions ...
, 12 local governments and 132 mukims.


Local governments

# Alor Setar City Council # Baling District Council # Bandar Baharu District Council # Kubang Pasu Municipal Council # Kulim Hi-Tech Industrial Park Local Authority # Kulim Municipal Council # Langkawi Municipal Council # Padang Terap District Council # Pendang District Council # Sik District Council #
Sungai Petani Municipal Council Sungai Petani Municipal Council is the local government which administers Sungai Petani and the whole Kuala Muda District, Kedah, Malaysia. It is the most populous local government in Kedah. Origins of the establishment The early history of the ...
# Yan District Council


Demographics

Kedah is a heterogeneous state with native Kedahan Malays being the majority, along with significant
Chinese Chinese may refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people identified with China, through nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **Han Chinese, East Asian ethnic group native to China. **'' Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic ...
,
Indian Indian or Indians may refer to: Associated with India * of or related to India ** Indian people ** Indian diaspora ** Languages of India ** Indian English, a dialect of the English language ** Indian cuisine Associated with indigenous peoples o ...
, Siamese and
Semang The Semang are an ethnic-minority group of the Malay Peninsula. They live in mountainous and isolated forest regions of Perak, Pahang, Kelantan and Kedah of Malaysia and the southern provinces of Thailand. The Semang are among the different eth ...
minorities. There was also a lesser known ethnic group known as the Sam Sam people, they are culturally Malay Muslim but speak Siamese. Most of these communities have now assimilated into the Kedahan Malay community but few still retain their Siamese language, those communities can be found in Changlun, Kodiang, Jitra, Wang Tepus, Guar Napai, Malau, Ason and Napoh. The Orang Asli in Kedah consists of Kensiu and Kintaq people and are mainly to be found in the Baling district, as their community crosses there into the neighboring state of
Perak Perak (; Perak Malay: ''Peghok'') is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. Perak has land borders with the Malaysian states of Kedah to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kel ...
.


Language

Like most parts of Malaysia, Kedah is home to various languages and dialects. The majority language of Kedah is
Kedah Malay Kedah Malay or Kedahan (; also known as ''Pelat Utara'' or ''Loghat Utara'' 'Northern Dialect') or as it is known in Thailand, Syburi Malay ( ''Phasa Malāyū Saiburī'') is a Malayic language mainly spoken in the northwestern Malaysian state ...
, known by locals as ''Pelat Utagha'' (Northern dialect), it is a distinct variety of Malay which also serves as the state's main
lingua franca A lingua franca (; ; for plurals see ), also known as a bridge language, common language, trade language, auxiliary language, link language or language of wider communication (LWC), is a Natural language, language systematically used to make co ...
and is used by almost all Kedahans regardless of race. Kedah Malay has many sub-dialects which differs from district to district and is also spoken outside of Kedah in places such as Penang, Perlis, northern Perak and even as far as
Satun Satun (, , ) is a town ('' thesaban mueang'') in southern Thailand, capital of the Satun province. It covers the whole ''tambon'' Phiman of Mueang Satun. Satun lies 985 km south of Bangkok. As of 2005 it has a population of 21,498. Climat ...
in Thailand and
Tanintharyi Tanintharyi may refer to: * Tanintharyi (town) or Taninthayi (known during the British occupation as Tenasserim), a town in Tanintharyi Township, Myeik District, in the Tanintharyi Region of Burma (Myanmar) * Tanintharyi Region, formerly Tenasseri ...
in
Myanmar Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has ...
. Besides Kedah Malay, another distinct variety of Malay known as Baling Malay (''Cakak Baling'') is mainly spoken in
Baling District The Baling District is an administrative district in southeastern Kedah, Malaysia. Located about 110 km from Alor Setar, it borders Perak and Betong, the southernmost town of Thailand. Name The name Baling can be traced to a series of ev ...
as well as some parts of the Sik and Yan districts. Baling, along with Grik Malay is part of Reman Malay, an offshoot of Kelantan-Pattani Malay of which it was descended from the people of the
Kingdom of Reman The Kingdom of Reman or Kingdom of Rahman (; Jawi: كراجأن رمان; ; ) was a landlocked semi-independent Malay kingdom in the northern Malay Peninsula. It was one of seven regions of Patani Kingdom, an autonomous tributary state of S ...
of which once ruled the Baling and Grik regions before it was dissolved and became part of three distinct political entities namely Kedah, Perak and Yala (Thailand). Besides Malay, there are also various minority languages spoken throughout Kedah,
Aslian languages The Aslian languages () are the southernmost branch of Austroasiatic languages spoken on the Malay Peninsula. They are the languages of many of the ''Orang Asli'', the aboriginal inhabitants of the peninsula. The total number of native speakers o ...
such as Jahai, Kensiu and Kintaq are spoken by the small
Orang Asli The Orang Asli are a Homogeneity and heterogeneity, heterogeneous Indigenous peoples, indigenous population forming a national minority in Malaysia. They are the oldest inhabitants of Peninsular Malaysia. As of 2017, the Orang Asli accounted f ...
populations mostly in the inland region. The
Chinese Chinese may refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people identified with China, through nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **Han Chinese, East Asian ethnic group native to China. **'' Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic ...
in Kedah also speaks various
varieties of Chinese There are hundreds of local Chinese language varieties forming a branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages, Sino-Tibetan language family, many of which are not Mutual intelligibility, mutually intelligible. Variation is particularly strong in the m ...
such as
Mandarin Mandarin or The Mandarin may refer to: Language * Mandarin Chinese, branch of Chinese originally spoken in northern parts of the country ** Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Mandarin, the official language of China ** Taiwanese Mandarin, Stand ...
,
Hokkien Hokkien ( , ) is a Varieties of Chinese, variety of the Southern Min group of Chinese language, Chinese languages. Native to and originating from the Minnan region in the southeastern part of Fujian in southeastern China, it is also referred ...
and so on. There are also a small but well established
Indian Indian or Indians may refer to: Associated with India * of or related to India ** Indian people ** Indian diaspora ** Languages of India ** Indian English, a dialect of the English language ** Indian cuisine Associated with indigenous peoples o ...
community mostly of ethnic
Tamil Tamil may refer to: People, culture and language * Tamils, an ethno-linguistic group native to India, Sri Lanka, and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka ** Myanmar or Burmese Tamils, Tamil people of Ind ...
and also smaller number of
Telugus Telugu people (), also called Āndhras, are an ethno-linguistic group who speak the Telugu language and are native to the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Yanam district of Puducherry. They are the most populous of the four ...
,
Malayalees The Malayali people (; also spelt Malayalee and sometimes known by the demonym Keralite) are a Dravidian ethnolinguistic group originating from the present-day state of Kerala and Union Territory of Lakshadweep in India, occupying its south ...
and
Punjabis The Punjabis (Punjabi language, Punjabi: ; ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ; romanised as Pañjābī) are an Indo-Aryan peoples, Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group associated with the Punjab region, comprising areas of northwestern India and eastern Paki ...
who speak
Telugu Telugu may refer to: * Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of South India ** Telugu literature, is the body of works written in the Telugu language. * Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India * Telugu script, used to write the Tel ...
,
Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of ...
and
Punjabi Punjabi, or Panjabi, most often refers to: * Something of, from, or related to Punjab, a region in India and Pakistan * Punjabi language * Punjabis, Punjabi people * Punjabi dialects and languages Punjabi may also refer to: * Punjabi (horse), a ...
. Kedah is also home to a large community of ethnic Siamese of which it has its own distinct dialect of the
Thai language Thai,In or Central Thai (historically Siamese;Although "Thai" and "Central Thai" have become more common, the older term, "Siamese", is still used by linguists, especially when it is being distinguished from other Tai languages (Diller 2008:6 ...
which is different from ones spoken in
Kelantan Kelantan (; Kelantan-Pattani Malay, Kelantanese Malay: ''Klate''; ) is a state in Malaysia. The capital, Kota Bharu, includes the royal seat of Kubang Kerian. The honorific, honorific name of the state is ''Darul Naim'' ("The Blissful Abode"). ...
(which also has a large Siamese population) and Standard Thai.


Ethnicity

The population of Kedah in 2015 was 2,071,900. It was made up of 76% Bumiputra (Malays and others), 12.7% Chinese, 6.9% Indian, 0.9% others and 3.4% non-Malaysian. The following is based on 2015 figures from the Department of Statistics Malaysia.


Religion

As of 2010 the population of Kedah is 77.2%
Muslim Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...
, 14.2%
Buddhist Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
, 6.7%
Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
, 0.8%
Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...
, 0.6% unknown / none, 0.3%
Taoist Taoism or Daoism (, ) is a diverse philosophical and religious tradition indigenous to China, emphasizing harmony with the Tao ( zh, p=dào, w=tao4). With a range of meaning in Chinese philosophy, translations of Tao include 'way', 'road', ...
or Chinese religion followers, 0.1% followers of other religions, and 0.1% non-religious. Statistics from the 2010 Census indicate that 94.3% of the Chinese population are identified as Buddhists, with significant minorities of adherents identifying as Christians (2.4%),
Chinese folk religion Chinese folk religion comprises a range of traditional religious practices of Han Chinese, including the Chinese diaspora. This includes the veneration of ''Shen (Chinese folk religion), shen'' ('spirits') and Chinese ancestor worship, ances ...
s (2.4%) and Muslims (0.4%). The majority of the Indian population are Hindus (91.7%), with a significant minorities of numbers identifying as Christians (3.7%), Muslims (2.4%) and Buddhists (1.3%). The non-Malay '' bumiputera'' community are predominantly Christians (39.7%), with significant minorities identifying as Muslims (26.9%) and Buddhists (26.3%). All Malays are necessarily Muslims as defined in the Malaysian constitution.


Economy

Kedah is considered the "rice bowl" () of Malaysia, accounting for about half of Malaysia's total production of rice. In 2008, the state government banned the conversion of paddy fields to housing and industrial lots to protect the rice industry. Tourism in the state is mainly focused on the island of Langkawi, although there are a few attractions on the mainland as well. In the 1990s, Kedah began moving its economy towards the automotive and aerospace industries with national motorcycle manufacturer
Modenas ''Syarikat Motosikal dan Enjin Nasional Sdn. Bhd'' (National Motorcycle and Engine Company), or known as Modenas for short is a Malaysian national motorcycle company producing various small motorcycle models below 400cc targeted for local marke ...
(established in 1995) and
Boeing The Boeing Company, or simply Boeing (), is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, and missiles worldwide. The company also provides leasing and product support s ...
subsidiary Asian Composites (established in 2001) setting up bases there. One of the main advantages is the low labour costs and the infrastructure in place with the North–South Expressway and the
Penang International Airport Penang International Airport (PIA) is an international airport in George Town, Penang, George Town, the capital city of the States and federal territories of Malaysia, Malaysian state of Penang. The airport is located at the southeastern tip of ...
close by. In 1996, the Kulim Hi-Tech Park was officially opened as the first high technology
industrial park An industrial park, also known as industrial estate or trading estate, is an area zoned and planned for the purpose of industrial development. An industrial park can be thought of as a more heavyweight version of a business park or office par ...
in Malaysia. The Park comprises a total land area of approximately 14.5 square kilometres (5.6 mi2). Under the
Ninth Malaysia Plan The Ninth Malaysian Plan (), abbreviated as '9MP', is a comprehensive blueprint prepared by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) of the Prime Minister's Department and the Finance Ministry of Malaysia with approval by the Cabinet of Malaysia. The pla ...
, Kedah, along with neighbouring
Perlis Perlis (Kedah Malay language, Kedah Malay (Perlis dialect): ''Peghelih'') is a Negeri, state of Malaysia in the northwestern coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It is the smallest state in Malaysia by area and population. The state borders the Thai ...
,
Penang Penang is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia along the Strait of Malacca. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. Th ...
and
Perak Perak (; Perak Malay: ''Peghok'') is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. Perak has land borders with the Malaysian states of Kedah to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kel ...
formed the
Northern Corridor Economic Region The Northern Corridor Economic Region ( ), commonly referred to as the Northern Corridor, is a development plan encompassing the four northwestern states of Malaysia, namely Perlis, Penang, Kedah and Perak. It was launched in 2007 by the federal ...
(NCER) in 2007.


Transportation

There are four highways in Kedah – the North-South Expressway,
Changlun–Kuala Perlis Highway Changlun–Kuala Perlis Highway () or Federal Route 194, is a controlled-access highway in Malaysia which links the state of Perlis with the main expressway of Peninsular Malaysia, the North–South Expressway (Malaysia), North–South Expresswa ...
, Butterworth-Kulim Expressway and the Trans Eastern Kedah Interland Highway. Additionally, the
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) (; Jawi: ) or colloquially referred to simply as KTM, is the main rail operator in Peninsular Malaysia. The railway system dates back to the British colonial era, when it was first built to transport tin. ...
(KTM) West Coast Line runs through mainland Kedah with six stops in total. Kedah has two airports –
Sultan Abdul Halim Airport Sultan Abdul Halim Airport is an airport in Kepala Batas, Kedah, Malaysia. It serves the city of Alor Setar and the state of Perlis. It is the second-largest airport in the northern Peninsula Malaysia, following Penang International Airport. T ...
on the mainland and
Langkawi International Airport Langkawi International Airport is an airport in Padang Matsirat, Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia. In 2015, the airport handled 2,336,177 passengers and 30,853 aircraft movements. The airport serves as a venue for the biennial Langkawi International ...
on
Langkawi Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah (), is a duty-free island and an archipelago of 99 islands (plus five small islands visible only at low tide in the Strait of Malacca) located some 30 km off the coast of northwe ...
Island. Both the mainland and Langkawi Island are interconnected with ferry services.


Timeline of tallest structures


Education


Public universities and colleges

The state has a campus of
Universiti Utara Malaysia Universiti Utara Malaysia (literally meaning Northern University of Malaysia, abbreviated as UUM or UNIUTAMA) is a public management university in Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia. It also has a branch campus in Kuala Lumpur. Its main campus, which is ...
(UUM), which is located in Bandar Baru
Sintok Sintok is a small town located in the Kubang Pasu District, Kedah, Malaysia. It is best known as the location of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), one of the prominent public universities in the country. Sintok lies approximately 52 kilometers f ...
. It was formally incorporated on 16 February 1984. The university was established with the specific mission of providing a leadership role for management education in the country. The academic establishments at UUM include the College of Business (COB), College of Law, Government and International Studies (COLGIS) and the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). Kedah also has several public universities and colleges such as
Universiti Teknologi MARA The MARA Technological University ( Malay: ''Universiti Teknologi MARA''; Jawi: اونيۏرسيتي تيكنولوڬي مارا; abbr. UiTM) is a public university in Malaysia, based primarily in Shah Alam, Selangor. It was established to ...
(UiTM) in
Merbok Merbok is a mukim (sub-district) in the Kuala Muda District of Kedah, Malaysia. It is known for the historical Bujang Valley. The area also hosts the Kedah Campus of Universiti Teknologi MARA The MARA Technological University ( Malay: '' ...
, the Malaysian Spanish Institute of the
University of Kuala Lumpur The University of Kuala Lumpur (, UniKL) is a multi-campus technical university with its main campus based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Rated as a Tier-5 "Excellent University" by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia in 2009, 2011, 2013 and ...
(UniKL MSI) and the Polytechnic Institute of Sultanah Bahiyah (PSB) in
Kulim The Kulim District is a district and town in the state of Kedah, Malaysia. It is located on the southeast of Kedah, bordering Penang. The town of Kulim, a mere east of Penang's capital city, George Town, also forms part of the George Town Conu ...
, the Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (
AIMST University Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST University) is a non-profit private university in Malaysia. It was established under the Maju Institute of Education Development (MIED), a non-profit organisation. The university was bui ...
) in
Bedong Bedong (pronounced as ) is a small town in Kuala Muda District, Kedah, Malaysia. Due to the town's name spelling being irregular from the standard Malay alphabet, Malaysians who are not familiar with the town will call Bedong as or instead of t ...
, Kolej Universiti Insaniah (KUIN) or UNISHAMS (Kuala Ketil, Baling Kedah) in Mergong and the Polytechnic Institute of Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah (POLIMAS) in
Jitra Jitra is a town and a mukim in Kubang Pasu District, in northern Kedah, Malaysia. It is the seat for the district. Jitra is the fourth-largest town in Kedah after Alor Setar, Sungai Petani and Kulim. History During World War II, when the Japane ...
. There are two teacher training institutions in Kedah, Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Sultan Abdul Halim (IPGKSAH) in
Sungai Petani Sungai Petani ( abbr. Sg. Petani or SP) is a city in Kuala Muda District, Kedah, Malaysia. The population of the municipal area of Sungai Petani is larger than Kedah's state capital, Alor Setar. It is located about 55 km south of Alor Set ...
and Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Darul Aman (IPGKDA) in Bandar Darulaman that are set up by the government to provide teaching courses for trainee teachers.


Private universities and colleges

Private universities and colleges that are located in Kedah include the
Open University The Open University (OU) is a Public university, public research university and the largest university in the United Kingdom by List of universities in the United Kingdom by enrolment, number of students. The majority of the OU's undergraduate ...
of Malaysia (OUM) Regional Learning Center for the state of Kedah and Perlis at Sungai Petani, the Albukhary International University in Alor Setar, Pusat Bahasa Titian Jaya the PTPL College and the Cosmopoint College.


Technical institutes

Kedah houses three technical institutes that are affiliated with MARA, that is Institut Kemahiran MARA Sungai Petani, Institut Kemahiran MARA Alor Setar and Institut Kemahiran MARA Sik.


Boarding schools

This state also has several
boarding school A boarding school is a school where pupils live within premises while being given formal instruction. The word "boarding" is used in the sense of "room and board", i.e. lodging and meals. They have existed for many centuries, and now extend acr ...
s such as
Sekolah Berasrama Penuh Sekolah Berasrama Penuh (SBP) or Fully Residential School is a school system established in Malaysia to nurture outstanding students to excel in academics and extracurricular activities. Since 2008, SBPs are directly administered by Fully Resid ...
and
MARA Junior Science College MARA Junior Science Colleges (MJSC) (), is a network of boarding schools founded by the Majlis Amanah Rakyat, People's Trust Council (PTC) (), a Malaysian governmental organization. These schools offer educational resources for students acro ...
or MRSM.


National Islamic schools

This state also has several secondary Islamic schools (
Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) or National Islamic Secondary School () is a type of institutional group of education established and managed by the Malaysian Ministry of Education (MOE). SMKA forms Religious Education Institution (IPA) wit ...
) such as Tahfiz Model Ulul Albab or TMUA. *Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Baling (SMKAB) *Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Sik (SMKAS) *Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Kedah (TMUA School) (SMKAK) *Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Yan (SMKAY)


Boarding school

* Maktab Rendah Sains MARA Kubang Pasu * Maktab Rendah Sains MARA Langkawi * Maktab Rendah Sains MARA Merbok * Maktab Rendah Sains MARA PDRM Kulim * Maktab Rendah Sains MARA Pendang * Maktab Rendah Sains MARA Baling * Sekolah Menengah Sains Sultan Mohamad Jiwa (SAINS KEDAH) * Sekolah Menengah Sains Pokok Sena (SAINA) * Sekolah Menengah Sultan Abdul Halim (SMSAH) * Sekolah Berasrama Penuh Integrasi Kubang Pasu (I-KUPs) * Sekolah Menengah Sains Kubang Pasu (KUPSIS) * Akademi Sains Pendang


Private and public schools

Public secondary schools include SMK Taman Jelutong, Keat Hwa Secondary School, Convent Secondary School (formerly known as St. Nicholas Convent Secondary School), Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultan Badlishah, Sin Min Secondary School, Chio Min Secondary School, SMK Sultanah Asma, SMK Convent Father Barre, SMK Khir Johari, SMK Kota Kuala Muda, SMK Tunku Ismail, SMK Aman Jaya, SMK Bedong,
SMK Bakar Arang Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bakar Arang (''SMK Bakar Arang'') is a public Malay secondary school A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both '' ...
, SMK Darulaman, SMK Ibrahim, K Jit, SMK Mahsuri, SMK Tunku Panglima Besar, Keat Hwa Secondary School, SMK Guar Chempedak and SMK Yan. Private secondary school include Keat Hwa High School, Sin Min High School and SM Sin Min.


Tourism

Tourism is mainly concentrated on
Langkawi Island Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah (), is a duty-free island and an archipelago of 99 islands (plus five small islands visible only at low tide in the Strait of Malacca) located some 30 km off the coast of northwe ...
, the largest island in the archipelago, but there are also places of interest on the mainland.


Kedah Mainland

*
Alor Setar Tower Alor Setar Tower (), also known as Kedah Tower, is a four-storey, -tall List of tallest towers, telecommunication tower in Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia. It is List of tallest buildings in Malaysia, once third tallest tower in Malaysia, the tall ...
– The third tallest tower in Malaysia, standing tall at 165.5-metre in height. * Balai Nobat * Balai Seni Negeri * Batu Hampar Waterfall * Bujang Valley Archaeological Museum – The only museum in Malaysia to display archaeological artefacts proving the existence of international trade and development of the Hindu Buddha religion in South-East Asia from the 3rd to 12th century * Junjong Waterfall * Kota Kuala Kedah * Lata Mengkuang Waterfall * Lembah Bujang Archaeological Park *
Pantai Merdeka Pantai Merdeka is a coastal location in Kuala Muda District, Kedah, Malaysia. It has the only sand beach in mainland Kedah, and it is the major attraction for beach goers from all over northern Penang and Kedah State. Various accommodation is a ...
* Kuala Muda – The Kota Kuala Muda Tsunami Memorial and the next door Tsunami Gallery didicated to the
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami On 26 December 2004, at 07:58:53 local time ( UTC+7), a major earthquake with a magnitude of 9.2–9.3 struck with an epicentre off the west coast of Aceh in northern Sumatra, Indonesia. The undersea megathrust earthquake, known in the sci ...
* Pantai Murni Waterfront * Pekan Rabu (Wednesday Market) – A multi-storey arcade selling a wide range of traditional delicacies, handicraft products and apparel * Rumah Merdeka * Seri Perigi Waterfall * Sungai Merbok Recreation Park * Sungai Sedim Tree Top Walk – The longest canopy walk in the world at 950 m long * Ulu Muda Eco Park * Ulu Paip Recreational Forest * Hutan Paya Laut * Ulu Legong Hot Springs – The only 24-hours hot spring, located 22 km from Baling * Wat Nikrodharam – Revered as being the primary Buddhist house of worship in Kedah's state capital, Alor Setar * Titi Hayun Waterfall *
Gunung Jerai Mount Jerai (), formerly Kedah Peak, is a mountain in Kedah, Malaysia with the height of . Within Kedah itself, the mountain stands at the border of Kuala Muda District, Kuala Muda and Yan District, Yan districts. Mount Jerai is known as the ...
*
Zahir Mosque The Zahir Mosque (, ) is a Sunni mosque in Alor Setar, Kota Setar, Kedah, Malaysia, and the state mosque of Kedah. Built in British Malaya in 1912, the Zahir Mosque is one of the grandest and oldest mosques in Malaysia. History The mosque wa ...
(Masjid Zahir) – One of Kedah's most distinctive architectural landmarks, it is one of the oldest mosques in the country


Langkawi

The
Langkawi International Airport Langkawi International Airport is an airport in Padang Matsirat, Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia. In 2015, the airport handled 2,336,177 passengers and 30,853 aircraft movements. The airport serves as a venue for the biennial Langkawi International ...
is located at Padang Matsirat and it is also considered a tourist attraction as the
Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA; ) is a maritime and aerospace exhibition which takes place once every two years, held on odd-numbered years. It is held in Langkawi, Malaysia, and the last event took place in 202 ...
takes place every 2 years near the airport. The airport handled almost 1.2 million passengers and over 41,000 aircraft movements in 2008. Langkawi International Airport is the main point of access to Langkawi. In 2007, Langkawi Island was given a World Geopark status by
UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
. Places of interest * MAHA Tower Langkawi – Fourth tallest tower in Malaysia, standing at 138 metres tallMount Mat Cincang (Gunung Mat Cincang) * SkyBridge Langkawi * SkyCab Langkawi * 3D Art in Paradise Langkawi * Underwater World Langkawi * Tanjung Rhu Beach * Cenang Beach * Pasir Tengkorak Beach * Dayang Bunting Lake * Kota Mahsuri * Craft Complex Langkawi * Dataran Lang * Upsido Langkawi Upside Down House * SkyTrex Adventure Langkawi * Galeria Perdana * Langkawi Wildlife Park * Kilim Geoforest Park * Crocodile Adventureland * MARDI Agro Technology Park * UMGAWA Zipline Eco Adventure * Langkawi Adventure & Xtreme Park * Pulau Payar Marine Park * Beras Basah Island * Field of Burnt Rice * Hot Springs * Telaga Tujuh (The Seven Wells) * Beach of Black Sand * Tasik Dayang Bunting (Lake of the Pregnant Maiden) * Gua Cerita (Cave of Stories) * Gua Langsir (Curtain Cave)


Sports

In 2006, Kedah hosted the 11th Sukma Games. The opening and closing ceremonies were held at the
Darul Aman Stadium The Darul Aman Stadium () is a multi-purpose all-seater stadium in Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium was opened officially by the Sultan of Kedah in 1962 during Malaya's 1-0 victory aga ...
in Alor Setar. Football and Sepak raga are the most popular sports in Kedah. Kedah Darul Aman F.C. is a professional football team that competes in the
Malaysia Super League The Malaysia Super League (), known simply as the Super League (), is the men's top professional Football in Malaysia, football division of the Malaysian football league system. Administered by the Football Malaysia Limited Liability Partnersh ...
and represents the state of Kedah under the supervision of the Kedah Football Association. They are the only team in the history of Malaysian football to achieved double treble titles in 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons.


See also

* Kingdom of Kubang Pasu Darul Qiyam *
Kingdom of Setul Mambang Segara Setul, officially the Kingdom of Setul Mambang Segara (; Jawi: ; ; ) was a Malay kingdom founded in the northern coast of the Malay Peninsula. The state was established in 1808 in the wake of the partition between the rulers of the royal hou ...


Bibliography

* James C. Scott, '' Weapons of the Weak: Everyday Forms of Peasant Resistance'' (1985)


References


External links

{{Authority control States of Malaysia Peninsular Malaysia Andaman Sea Feudalism in Malaysia British Malaya in World War II Strait of Malacca Malaysia–Thailand border Geoparks in Malaysia